Carluke Rovers welcomed East Kilbride YM to the John Cumming Stadium tonight in this West of Scotland League match. This was unchartered territory for East Kilbride as this was their first ever away game as a semi professional team having just joined the league with a very successful history in amateur football.

The game started under the floodlights with a late 8:15pm kickoff but there was nothing late about the start East Kilbride were to make as they took the lead in the first minute. A long diagonal by Ryan Johnstone from right back was controlled by the East Kilbride left winger. He then cut inside and had a shot which was blocked but only as far as James Cameron. The midfielder shot back across goal through a couple of Carluke players and the ball nestled in the bottom corner. 0-1 to East Kilbride YM.

This was an early setback for the Rovers but in the fifth minute they won a corner on the left. It was swung in and Olly Grenfell rose above everyone to bullet his header into the roof of the net to level up the scores. 1-1.

In the 11th minute a Mark Cassidy throw in was pulled down by Mikey Downs who laid off a lovely pass to Nicky Prentice. The midfielder made a great turn but his effort from 20 yards just missed the corner of post and bar.

Carluke were starting to get on top at this point and in 22 minutes nearly took the lead. Another whipping corner on the right from Chris Owen was met with the head of Gary Stewart but his effort was too close to the keeper and he managed to parry it over the bar.

In 32 minutes it was Gary Stewart again who nearly found the target. He managed to get the East Kilbride centre half isolated one on one and dragged the ball passed him before unleashing a great left foot shot. It looked destined for the roof of the net before the East Kilbride goalie got his hand to it and directed it on to the bar.

It was only a matter of time though before Carluke were to get that second goal and it duly came in the 38th minute. Great play by Kyle McAdam on the right anticipating the darting run of Ross Steele down the channel. The midfielder collected the ball and rounded the advancing Keeper before squaring the ball to Gary Stewart who had the simplest of tasks to knock the ball into the empty net from six yards out. 2-1 to Carluke.

East Kilbride YM were still very much in the game though and nearly snatched an equaliser in 41 minutes. A cross from the left wasn’t cleared properly and looped to the back post where Stuart Gordon attempted volley from close range went harmlessly wide. This was the last of the action in the first half and Carluke went in with a slender 2-1 lead.

The second half got underway with both teams knowing the first goal could be vital for the eventual outcome and it was Carluke who nearly got it in the 48th minute. A long speculative ball was latched onto by Ross Steele who had made one of his runs from deep. The midfielder looked up and saw the Keeper of his line and tried to lob him. Unfortunately he rushed his effort and missed the target with the ball going harmlessly wide.
 
However it was Ross Steele who would turn provider again when Nicky Prentice found him with a good pass and Steele charged down the left wing before cutting the ball back. East Kilbride managed to deflect the ball toward the 18 yard line but it only found Kyle McAdam who calmy fired the ball into the net off a slight deflection with his second goal in as many games. This gave Rovers a 3-1 lead after 59 minutes and a bit of breathing space.

It wasn’t to be much longer though before Carluke were to put the result beyond doubt with another sweeping move and clinical finish. This time the architect was Nicky Prentice. He chested the ball down midway inside the East Kilbride half and ghosted past a couple of players before unleashing a great shot. The East Kilbride keeper manage to parry the effort but only as far as Mikey Downs. The striker coolly chested the ball down before firing it into the roof of the net from close range. 4-1 Carluke.

The game was over as a contest but both teams were still pushing for more goals and Jacob Maceachen made a great run down the left in the 86th minute where turned his man but his effort was high and wide over the far post.

To East Kilbride’s credit they never gave up and in the last couple of minutes Rovers keeper Garry Black had to be at his best to keep them out but ultimately Rovers ran out comfortable winners 4-1.

After two wins out of two Carluke Rovers have already made a considerably better start than last season but in a league where there are no easy games they next travel to Giffnock on Saturday hoping to continue the good form.

Photography by Kevin Ramage